Don't Tell Me No

"Don't Tell Me No"
Single by The Cars
from the album Panorama
B-side	"Don't Go to Pieces"
Released	November 10, 1980
Format	7"
Genre	New wave
Length	4:00
Label	Elektra
Writer(s)	Ric Ocasek
Producer(s)	Roy Thomas Baker
The Cars singles chronology
"Touch and Go" (1980) "Don't Tell Me No" (1980) "Gimme Some Slack" (1980)
Panorama track listing 10 tracks Side one "Panorama" "Touch and Go" "Gimme Some Slack" "Don't Tell Me No" "Getting Through" Side two "Misfit Kid" "Down Boys" "You Wear Those Eyes" "Running To You" "Up and Down"

"Don't Tell Me No" is a song by the American New wave band, The Cars. The song, written by Ric Ocasek, appeared on the band's third studio album, Panorama.

Release and reception

"Don't Tell Me No" first saw release on the Panorama album in August 1980, but in November of that same year, the song was released as the follow-up single to the marginally successful "Touch and Go" single in America. However, unlike its predecessor, it failed to chart at all in said country.

AllMusic critic Greg Prato noted the track as an album highlight from Panorama, and went on to call it "strong, just not as well known as some of the other material [on the album]".^[1]

B-side

The song's B-side titled "Don't Go To Pieces", which was also the B-side to "Gimme Some Slack", features Benjamin Orr on lead vocals. The song can be described as one of their more punk-oriented tracks, but with a perfect blend of soft rock, it includes rare backing vocals from lead guitarist Elliot Easton and keyboardist Greg Hawkes singing "You can make the switch, you can have your wish", followed by the band joining and singing the chorus "don't go to pieces, b-b-b-baby."

References